Witches In Macbeth

Subservient, ignorant, passive, timid: these are the qualities that described the ideal 17th century woman in the eyes of Europeans. In the play Macbeth, author William Shakespeare explores the roles of these women through his female characters, challenging preconceived notions and setting up his personal perspective on what a woman's niche in society truly is. Through his contrasting female characters of the gentlewoman and Lady Macduff versus the witches and Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts the reality of how women actually function is society.

Macbeth is most liable of his own demolition and abhorrence, yet different characters had noteworthy influence in his thinking behind the wrongdoings he submitted. The Three Witches gave Macbeth a way to take after of how to get the objective the he had needed for long time, to end up ruler. His better half, Lady Macbeth, was an immense motivator to perpetrate the wrongdoings he conferred. She controlled Macbeth from multiple points of view. Notwithstanding considering the greater part of that, Macbeth is most liable on the grounds that no one but he can control his activities.

Whenever there is a mass murder and dozens of innocent people die the world wants to know why the murderer would do such a thing. Sometimes, the murderer is acting under the influence of someone else. This is the case in William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Macbeth, where the titular character commits multiple crimes after hearing three witches predict his future. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, the witches are the catalyst to all of Macbeth’s crimes. This can be seen when they convince Macbeth that he will become king, they motivate him to kill Banquo and they inform him that he is virtually unkillable and should fear MacDuff.

The readers of Macbeth will find out that objects associated with the number three, such as: three witches, three murders, and three ghostly apparitions eventually cause the downfall of Macbeth. The three witches appear to Macbeth in act one, bringing prophecies to him. They exclaim, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and

The supernatural elements presented in The Tragedy of Macbeth each demonstrate hints of wickedness or evil. For example, the three witches. When presented in the story, their presence always gives off bad vibes. In the exposition of the tragedy, the First Witch asks, “When shall we three meet again? / In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” (I:I, 1-2). The use of “thunder, lightning, or in rain” indicates to the reader of the malicious nature of the three witches. Upon encountering the three witches, Macbeth is astounded. Their prophecies alarm him, causing him to ask what they mean by “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” (I:iii, 50). Many times, the paradoxes used by the witches confusing. In one scene, the witches appeal in favor of Banquo. The use of their paradox, “Not so happy, yet much happier,” indicates their intention of portraying things not as they really seem. (I:iii, 66). Meeting the three witches is Macbeth’s first step in losing his sanity. He struggles to differentiate what is real and what is not.

The very beginning of the play indicates that dark supernatural forces will be involved. Three weird sisters are preparing a surprise for Macbeth, surprise that will eventually cost him life and the salvation of his soul. Witches' predictions play very important role in leading Macbeth to the evil deeds. Witches are the first to

laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none born of woman / Shall harm Macbeth."

The witches lurk like dark thoughts and unconscious temptations to evil . Referred to as the “weird sisters”, the three witches are wicked evil, and powerful creatures who embody unreasoning and instinctive evil. Also referred to as supernatural caricatures due to their beards,strange potions and rhymed speech, the weird sisters prophecies spark the evil and malevolent acts of Macbeth. Similarly, the three sisters manipulate macbeth with prophecies as Lady macbeth did with questioning his manliness. Unlike most other characters who mostly speak in blank verse, the three witches speak in rhyming couplets that contradict one another “Double, double, toil and trouble, / Fire burn and cauldron bubble” in 4.1.10–11).

The three witches in the tragedy Macbeth are introduced right at the beginning of the play. The scene opens with the witches chanting three prophesies: Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King. These prophesies introduce Macbeth to his plan of defeat and to over power. Macbeth will eventually follow through in killing king Duncan. Some people believe that the witches had the ability to reverse the order of things. This brings into the play idea of fate and the role with which it has in the play. One can only wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met with the witches. It is however, more realistic to believe that Macbeth was responsible for his own actions throughout the play and in the end,

     The Three Witches are the ones who introduce the paradox that runs throughout the play. The theme affects these characters because although they speak of the future, they do not seem to affect the course of it. They are the agents of fate because they only speak of the truth of what will happen. Macbeth refers to the Witches as the Weird Sisters. In fact the word "Weird" comes from an old English word

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” William Shakespeare. In the play, Macbeth, three witches tell Macbeth a handful of prophecies that later come true. These prophecies mean nothing if Macbeth is not influenced to do something about it. Macbeth shows bravery and honor in a battle which gives victory to Scotland, making the witch’s first prophecy correct. Lady Macbeth’s ambitious to be queen after hearing about the witch’s second prophecy. This influences Macbeth’s actions because she calls him a coward and questions his love. After Macbeth becomes king he gets himself his own ambition to stay king and this influences him to kill Banquo who is a potential threat to him according to one of the witch’s prophecies stating that Banquo’s children will become future kings. His ambition also leads him to kill Macduff’s family because one of the witch’s prophecies states to beware of Macduff and since he cannot kill Macduff, he kills his family instead. Finally, Macbeths over confidence leads to his demise because of the witch’s final prophecy, which Macbeth misinterprets incorrectly, leading him to become too over confident. The three witches merely report what is destined to be, they do not instigate his actions, his actions are influenced by bravery, Lady Macbeths ambition, his own ambition, and his over confidence.

Supernatural literature has always been used as a way to voice beliefs about the supernatural world and it’s relation to the human mind. The belief in a supernatural or mythical idea is society’s way of finding a reasonable explanation for natural phenomena before the birth of science. That is why supernatural literature is as appealing as it’s linked to the nature of life, death, and the universe and these are the most controversial topics with the widest range of unanswered questions. The idea of magic, spirits and gods are somewhat real to some people, so where did the thought of witches, vampires and demons come from?

will be not so happy because he will have an early death, but he will

However, the play refers often to details of Scottish culture at that time. “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (Act 1 Scene 1) Throughout the ages and in all countries there have been people who have believed in witches and witchcraft. The people of those days were no different. Shakespeare drew on the popular traditions of his time and used them for his own purposes in making the play. In Macbeth he used popular beliefs about witches and witchcraft. Witches were associated with the dark and death. “Witches were supposed to be capable of doing all the things that the three weird sisters are said to perform in Macbeth. It was believed that they could see into the future; that they could create storms, thunder and lightning; that they were able to sink ships; dry up springs; stop the sun and change night into day and day into night. They could also cause the death of their enemies, and could make themselves invisible. In order to work their charms they would open graves and steal parts of the bodies to make potions. For this purpose the bodies of anabaptized babies were especially prized. And witches could call up the dead.” (cite)

The power of The Witches does not cease to guide Macbeth further along the path of evil A deadly illusion is created before Macbeth in order to make sure that he does not stray away from is prophesy to become king